New Buncombe charter school receives grant

ASHEVILLE – Franklin School of Innovation, one of the new charter schools that opened this year in Buncombe County, has been awarded a $194,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The school is one of 16 national winners of a charter school education grant. It is the only recipient in the state, according to a news release.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows is scheduled to visit the school to announce the grant.

The school was selected “for its efforts in a number of areas, including the promotion of student diversity, professional learning activities, and community support,” according to the release.

“I’m thrilled at the news of financial support for our vision,” Michelle Vruwink, Franklin’s primary founder and executive director, said in the release. “For a start-up school in the current school budget climate, this grant gives us resources that we couldn't otherwise afford. This allows us to focus on developing the expeditionary learning model, supporting teacher's professional growth, and improving instruction in our classrooms.”

The school is currently housed in temporary locations in south Asheville. Eventually students will move to the permanent location on 13 acres on Sardis Road.

The school opened in August with 277 students in grades six through nine. The school eventually will have grades six through 12.